Law and Order Bolan
The larger part of Bolan district is bifurcated into an "A" and a "B" area. The "A" area, comprising towns and highways, has a police force. A police station has a radius of maximum 8 kilometres jurisdiction. A "B" area does not have a police force. All major law and order situations in the "B" area are dealt with by levies
Bolan district has a limited police force, largely comprising of Balochistan Reserve Policemen. As there is no superintendent of police (SP) at district level, the policemen come under the SP office at Nasirabad, which has four stations under his jurisdiction: Dhadar, Bhag, Gandawa and D.M.Jamali. The first two fall in Bolan district.
Levy is a conventional force for maintaining law and order. Installed during British rule, levy members are recruited along tribal or clan lines. The levies fall under the direct command of the Deputy Commissioner, with his powers delegated to the assistant commissioners, tehsildars, etc. The levies in Bolan district are classified in Sepoy, Hawaldar, Dafeedar, Jameedar and Risaldar.. An ordinary Sepoy's pay is from 2,000 Rs. to 2,500 Rs. Every district in Balochistan has its own levies, named after the district. Recently, at the initiation of the DC administration, a new levy force has been recruited on district level, known as the Task Force. This Task Force is better trained and equipped with advanced weapons.
The total number of regular levy members in Bolan is 595, including a Risaldar Major, two Risaldar, six Dafeedar, eight Jamadar, 41 Hawaldar, 407 constables (foot constable), six trackers and 22 members of the Task Force. In addition there is a temporary levy force to guard the district’s important railways (134) and micro-stations (20). They are paid by the Railways and T & T department. The total number of levy posts in the district is 20.
Levy is an effective force. However, in case of tribal enmities or a serious law and order situation, the Frontier Corps (FC), a para-military force under the Federal Home Department, can be called by the District Magistrate with the consent of the Divisional Commissioner, the Home Department and the Inspector General FC. There is a wing of the FC corps, called the Sibi Scouts, stationed in Mach, under the command of a major. The contingent can be called from Sibi Scouts headquarters at Sibi. The role of the FC has become more important as a result of the tribal enmity between the Rind and the Raisani, between the Raisani and the Domki and between Rind clans (the Merozai and the Hotanzi).
The administration of justice includes a Qazi Court at Dhadar. After the partial separation of the judiciary from the executive, civil and criminal cases are largely decided by Judicial Magistrates, Civil Judges, and District and Session Judges at Sibi (until January 1997 no Judicial Magistrate or Civil Judge office existed in Bolan district). Based on chapters 8, 9, 11 and 12 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), the executive powers (Assistant Commissioner and Additional Deputy Commissioner) still have judicial powers too. They can impose prison sentences up to three years and fines not exceeding 5,000. Rs. The Qazi court hears civil cases only. Since Ordinance 2 (Jirga Law) was abolished, the Deputy Commissioner has no longer the power to decide in murder cases.
The largest prison of Balochistan, built in 1929, is located in Bolan district, near Mach. In British days it was known as the toughest jail for notorious and habitual criminals from all over British India. The jail has a capacity for 570 convicts, but currently the actual number of prisoners exceeded 750. There are seven barracks for adult male prisoners, one for juvenile prisoners and one for female prisoners. The jail has a big factory where prisoners can learn various skills, particularly carpet making. The Mach jail is the only jail in Balochistan with execution facilities. All those sentenced to death are transferred to Mach. Death sentences are carried out on an open yard with gallows, where three persons can be executed at a time.
There are three levy lockups in Dhadar, Bhag, and Sanni. The one in Dhadar is the largest. They come under the DC office and are for temporary arrangements. An accused can be held in a levy lockup up to a maximum of 14 days. Detention of a remand who is taken in for three to four days, may be extended up to 14 days. A levy lockup is less comfortable than a jail.
In day-light, foreigners are allowed to travel on the highways across the district without specific permission for camping. Travelling in the "B" area is only allowed for foreigners with permission from the Home Department. They are provided with a levy escort by the DC office without any charges. Similarly is the case with Pakistanis (not being native) doing research in "B" areas, although they do not need permission from the Home Department. The incidents of kidnapping for ransom and demand acceptance have increased.